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Hiking Trail
· Campania
Monte San Michele or Molare from Castellammare di Stabia to Positano
Little Fish Trek
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On the seafront of Castellammare di Stabia immediately after departing from the FS Station.Photo: Mario Briotto, Little Fish Trek
Monti Lattari and Sorrento Peninsula: Castellammare di Stabia, Medieval Castle, Path of the Angel, Monte Faito, Sanctuary of San Michele Arcangelo, Monte San Michele or Molare, Cross of Conocchia, Forestry Barracks, Montepertuso and arrival at Positano.
Crossing of the tip of the Sorrento Peninsula passing through the highest and most characteristic profile of Monte Sant'Angelo a Tre Pizzi.
The starting and ending points at Castellammare di Stabia and Positano are a consequence of the choice to use public transport based in Salerno.
The itinerary is practically all on well-marked CAI paths.
For those who want to walk fast without many distractions, it is possible also in periods with fewer daylight hours (and cooler climate), since most of the route is very smooth.
Author’s recommendation
Some of the published photos are taken in vertical format due to the “narrowness of the photographic spaces” available.
In preview format they are not displayed well, and it is better to view them in full-screen mode to fully understand the aspect of some settings.
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With this hike, and/or its possible variants, you can complete a nice Amalfi-Positano-Castellammare triangle – for the other two sides of the triangle you can refer, as a basic idea, to the itineraries:
- Castellammare → Amalfi via the Path of the Knights and Valle delle Ferriere
- From Amalfi to Positano via Fiordo di Furore and Path of the Gods
All these crossings can be planned in both directions.
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Show elevation profileRest stops
PositanoTips and suggestions
I indicated from March to October as the recommended period for the journey, taking into account a sufficient number of daylight hours for the complete journey AT A RELAXED PACE.
It is clear that you can go all year round on the various segments of the route.
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For a complete overview of the itineraries traveled and described on the Monti Lattari, you can refer to the link → Monti Lattari - Sorrento Peninsula - Amalfi Coast.
Roadbook
Premise
This route was traveled on August 7, 2021, and all subsequent observations and considerations can fully apply only to that day.
It is entirely on paths mapped on the hiking maps of the area, both the CAI of the Monti Lattari and those of the Amalfi Coast series from "cart&guide."
The entire itinerary is included in OpenStreetMap and derivatives.
With all this basic documentation, just a little attention is enough and you won't get lost even if it's your first time, as in our case.
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From the Castellammare di Stabia railway station to the summit of Monte San Michele or Molare
From the Castellammare di Stabia railway station, you walk about 1.5 km along the promenade, then take the stairway of Salita Visanola.
Upon reaching the Medieval Castle, you cross the Sorrento State Road and continue on various small roads with some beautiful panoramic views.
Then the small roads become a path and you follow the Path of the Angel in a constant ascent up to the Monte Faito sign just above the cable car station.
Here you follow to the left, on wide walkways, the long and gentle ridge up to the Sanctuary of San Michele Arcangelo.
From the Sanctuary – always with "abundant" signs – you briefly descend following the carriage road to take a traverse path that leads under the northern slopes of Monte Sant’Angelo a Tre Pizzi; finally, you cross to the southwest and shortly enter the short and steep southern gully leading to the summit of Monte San Michele or Molare.
This part of the hike can be considered easy or very easy, except for the few meters of the final southern gully, which I would define as medium level.
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Descent from Monte San Michele or Molare to Positano
Compared to the ascent, there are more medium-level sections, not so much for technical reasons, but due to a "greater frequency" of steps on medium-height steps and, in some cases, a bit dirty with gravel and pebbles.
Upon reaching the Cross of Conocchia, it is hard to leave ... given the beauty of the view.
After a short ridge section, you descend more decisively and with a traverse to the left, you reach the top of a steep ravine which you descend on a path with wooden railings: the railings are not very stable to hold on to, but give an idea of the line to follow in the medium distance.
Then another long section to the left, and with several switchbacks, you arrive at a panoramic pulpit which you reach with a deviation of a few meters that is "practically mandatory."
From here, always with various switchbacks that soften the slope profile, you reach the Forestry Barracks and then (with more steps) arrive at Montepertuso.
At Montepertuso, you walk about 600 meters on asphalt and then take the stairway descending to Positano.
When you reach the first crossing of the inner streets of Positano, follow the further staircases with signs "Spiaggia - Beach," and you arrive at the port.
Today, in peak season, we got on a ferry stopping at Amalfi for the return to Salerno.
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
There are many alternatives to arrive with public transport to Castellammare di Stabia.
Given our base in Salerno, we chose the train with a change at Torre Annunziata: at the date of this hike there are at least two runs every hour from early morning Monday to Saturday, while on Sunday there is a lower frequency.
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Also, Positano is very well connected with public transport in all directions, and you can refer to:
When ferries are not running, buses are sufficient.
Directions
No explanations are needed to arrive by car to Castellammare di Stabia and Positano, but you can arrange with public transport.Coordinates
Book recommendation by the author
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Positano THE VERTICAL CITY
by Romolo Ercolino
Nicola Longobardi Publisher
The Amalfi Coast from Punta Campanella to Vietri sul Mare – with maps of the villages and over 500 images
by Gabriele Cavaliere
Officine Zephiro – «cart&guide» series
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24 walks in the Amalfi Coast – where they are, what they offer, how to walk them, with maps and technical notes
by Luciano Pellecchia
Officine Zephiro – «cart&guide» series
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The 100 Beaches of the Amalfi Coast – where they are, what they offer, how to reach them
by Roberto Pellecchia
Officine Zephiro – «cart&guide» series
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The other side of the Amalfi Coast – from Salerno to Sorrento through the mountains and the towns of the Sorrento Peninsula
by Roberto Mezzacasa
TAMARI Mountain EDITIONS
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THE LAND OF THE SIRENS … 100 WONDERS
by Gabriele Cavaliere
Officine Zephiro Publisher
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SECRETS AND WONDERS OF THE SORRENTO COAST
by Roberto Pellecchia
Officine Zephiro Publisher
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Positano THE VERTICAL CITY
by Romolo Ercolino
Nicola Longobardi Publisher
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THE COASTS OF SORRENTO AND AMALFI – Ancient, modern and dialectal toponymy
by Giovanni Visetti
Nicola Longobardi Publisher
Author’s map recommendations
MONTI LATTARI – SORRENTO PENINSULA – AMALFI COAST – ISLAND OF CAPRI
Trail Map – Hiking Map → Scale 1:25,000 2nd edition
www.caimontilattari.it – published by «il Lupo»
Excellent hiking map, very precise, with trails drawn after being recorded by GPS.
On the CAI Monti Lattari website all the GPS tracks of the trails are available for download, with many interesting historical and environmental notes, as well as information about passability and possible closures.
The consultation interface is intuitive and it is very easy to plan any hike.
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AMALFI COAST
trail map 3 twenty walks from Conca dei Marini to Positano – at scale 1:10,000
Officine Zephiro – «cart&guide» series
There are various editions of this series of maps with different numbers of proposed walks, which are detailed on the back of the page reserved for the map.
The front of the maps declares the online availability of GPS tracks, but as of the date of this hike they are not yet available.
From the same publisher, very useful are the other detailed maps (usually at scale 1:5,000) for moving within the settlements of the most famous locations.
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In the category of electronic maps, in OpenStreetMap and derivatives, the entire itinerary of this hike can be found.
Book recommendations for this region:
Recommended maps for this region:
Equipment
Normal hiking equipment.
Localization
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
User Questions